Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-01-20
THE COAST.
An Important Meeting Of
Fruit Growers.
THE REPORTS PRESENTED.
An Abundance of Rain All Along
the Line-An ARRAY at
the Needles.

Special to the Herald bv the Associated Press.
SAN FRANCISCO, January l9.-Th
second annual meeting of the California
Fruit Union was held this afternoon a
Irving Hall, President A. I. Hatch pre-
siding. There were about hundred
members present from various parts o
the State. The President announced
that the meeting would be devoted tt
hearing reports about the work OF tn
Union during the year past. Secretary
Fairbanks then read the annual repor
of the officers of the Union. La 1t the
chief difficulties experienced during the
past year were dwelt upon. In the first
place there is no union of action among
the fruit growers of the State as to the
Eastern trade. As result much Cali.
fornia fruit was found to be injuriously
competing with other California fruit in
various Eastern cities. There is also
not enough stock owned by the various
members of the union. Responses TO
various calls for aid were not as generous
as they should have been. The amount
now due from delinquent stockholders
is $4036. so. The amount received by
the union and paid out for various pur-
poses during the year was SS2l7. There
is still due by the union to various cred.
itors $l722. The number of boxes of
fruit sent East by the union last year
was Ill ,933, or 597, Alp pounds of fruit.
The total amount received for fruit was
$3.50 400; freights and other charges
were S2l3, 900, leaving total gain Of
$l42, 400, or about p cents pound for
the fruit. The report then urged that
the prime object of work during the
coming year should be in the di.
rection of obtaining lower rates Of
freight and more rapid transportation
These difficulties were the chief OBJ
stacles to the success of the Union dur
ing the last year. The report closed
with the assurance that despite all OF
the difficulties experienced, last years
work had proved the Union to be val
liable institution. and one that was in
dispensable to the fruit interests Of the
State.
A. Weinstock, of Sacramento, then
presented the report of the committee
appointed by the fruit growers conven.
ton at Sacramento to confer with the
railroad authorities as to freight rates
for the coming year. He read a letter
received from Mr.. Towne, to the effect
that the $500 per car fast freight rate to
Chicago could not be made by the COM
pany. The lowest rate that could be
granted was $500 car in ten.car trains,
the time to Chicago to be twelve hours
, slower than passenger trains. Fruit
trains run on fast passenger time would
be charged $500 per car. For ordinary
freight time $3.50 per car would be
charged for green fruit to Chicago.
After the reading of this report, on
motion, committee of seven was ap-
pointed by the President. This commit.
tee is to unite with the Sacramento Fruit
Growers committee. These committees
are to visit Mr.. Towne at the Palace
Hotel this evening. They are to confer
with him as to freight rates aad report
to the convention in the morning.
The Joint committee of the California
Fruit Union and Fruit Growers Associa-
ton waited upon General Manager A. N.
Towne of the Southern Pacific Company
tonight to obtain reduced freight rates
on fruit shipments east. He granted a
rate of $500 per car for trains OF tea cars
to Chicago, time to be not more than
twenty four hours slower than passen'
ger trains. The committee expect to get
a rate of Sl00 from Chicago to New
York. In granting the reduction Man
ager Towne said it was done with the
proviso that the Interstate Commerce
Bill does not interfere.
In stating this. Mr.. Towne intimated
that the workings of the Interstate
Commerce bill, now before Congress,
might oblige the railroad company to
annul this reduction and maintain the
present rates.